Lower Falls
By Armen Suny · Last verified Oct 2026
LiDAR & 3D terrain
Photo Credits (3)
Difficulty
Drive Up
About Lower Falls
Lower Falls is a historic lock and dam site on the Coal River in St. Albans, Kanawha County, located on Strawberry Road. It is one of four old lock and dam sites along the lower Coal River, which runs from Alum Creek to the Kanawha River at St. Albans. Upper Falls, at Tornado, is about 2.5 miles to the south.
Trail & Hike Details
The Approach
No hiking required. Lower Falls is accessible by vehicle with a roadside viewing area.
What to Expect
A low river falls at an old lock and dam site in a residential part of St. Albans, rather than a forest hike.
Accessibility
This waterfall is viewable from a vehicle-accessible area. No hiking is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
🐶 Are Dogs Allowed at Lower Falls?
❌ Dogs are not allowed
Are There Any Fees or Permits Required?
🆖 No fees required
🏊 Is There Swimming at Lower Falls?
❌ Swimming is not allowed
When to Visit
Seasonal Access
The best time to visit is Spring, Summer, and Fall. Winter access may be limited.
Safety Information
Water temperature is currently 49°F — cold enough to cause numbness quickly. Avoid prolonged water contact and use caution near the falls.
Low-head dams and ledges create dangerous recirculating currents. Do not swim or paddle over the dam; portage around it.
Current Water Conditions
These readings come from the USGS gauge on Coal River, 2.7 miles away, not on Lower Falls's own stream. Use them as a sign of whether the area is running wet or dry.
362 ft³/s
Current discharge — how much water is flowing
About average for this time of year
Based on 70 years of record
9.87 ft
Water depth at gauge
49°F
Very coldExpect numbness within minutes
7-Day Discharge Trend
What does this mean for your visit?
Flow is about average for this time of year. Water temperature is very cold at 49 degrees F, expect numbness within minutes. Mineral content is elevated.
Water Quality
Conductance
Dissolved minerals in the water
About This Gauge
7-Day Flow Outlook
Based on the USGS gauge COAL RIVER AT TORNADO, WV (4 km away).
Today
Roaring
391 cfs
6/10Tomorrow
Roaring
412 cfs
9/10Tue
Roaring
407 cfs
9/10Wed
Roaring
442 cfs
9/10Thu
Roaring
421 cfs
9/10Fri
Roaring
421 cfs
9/10Sat
Roaring
432 cfs
9/10Best window: Tomorrow — roaring flow, mostly sunny (trip score 9/10).
Best time of year: this gauge typically runs highest from late January to mid April, peaking in March.
How we calculate this
This is a transparent outlook, not a precise forecast. We take the waterfall's current flow strength (how it ranks against its historical normal for today, from the nearest USGS stream gauge), carry that ranking forward along the gauge's seasonal curve, and nudge it for forecast rain. Confidence is highest for the next day or two and falls further out. Always check official conditions and your own judgment before visiting — high flows can be dangerous.
Know when to go.
Get a free email alert when waterfalls near St. Albans hit peak flow. We only send when conditions are worth the trip — no weekly newsletters, no spam.
Is Lower Falls Frozen?
Updated about 17 hours agoNot frozen highs above freezing lately north-facing, shaded
Lower Falls is not frozen right now; highs have been above freezing. Yesterday ran 48°F to 40°F.
- Days below freezing
- 0 of the last 14
- Current cold streak
- 0 days
- Freezing days ahead
- 0 of the next 7
- Flow
- 297 ft³/s
Winter safety. Frozen falls are the one waterfall trip with a documented injury pattern: falling ice, and ice-glazed rock and trail. Wear microspikes, keep well back from the base and from overhangs, and never walk out on ice over moving water.
Estimate from Open-Meteo daily temperatures at the falls, the LiDAR-measured facing direction, and the nearest stream gauge. It is a likelihood, not a report from the trail. See every frozen waterfall in West Virginia.
Weather Forecast
The Terrain, Seen by LiDAR
Aircraft-mounted lasers measured this ground to within inches. Trees and buildings are digitally stripped away, leaving the bare shape of the land the water has carved.
Through the falls the surface drops roughly 76 feet over a short, steep run of tiers. Elevation at the pin is about 568 feet.
Most of the action is upstream: the ground drops about 72 feet in the 500 feet above the pin and flattens beneath the falls. Facing northwest, the falls stay mostly shaded, with soft, even light all day.
Drag to compare. The dot marks the waterfall. The frame is about a mile across.
- Ground elevation
- 568 feet
- Measured by 3-meter lidar
- Drop at the falls
- About 76 feet
- Change in ground height within ~250 feet of the falls
- Faces
- Northwest
- Mostly shaded, so the light stays soft and even all day.
A slice through the lidar ground surface, from above the falls to downstream (heading northwest).
Elevation data: USGS 3D Elevation Program. Aerial imagery: USGS The National Map. Public domain.
Location & Access
Getting There
Lower Falls is on Strawberry Road in St. Albans, near Lower Falls Drive, off WV-3 along the Coal River.
Get Directions on Google MapsElevation
568 feet above sea level
Coordinates
38.374815° N, -81.859019° W
Visitor Tips & Gear
The Coal River Group in St. Albans and Tornado offers kayak rentals and Coal River water trail information.
Where to Stay
Holiday Inn Express Winfield - Teays Valley by IHG
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Cross Lanes by IHG
Wingate by Wyndham Hurricane WV
Sleep Inn & Suites Cross Lanes - South Charleston
Browse vacation cabins and private rentals nearby
Unique outdoor stays — tents, yurts, and treehouses
Rent a campervan or RV for your waterfall road trip
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Additional Information
Nearby Attractions
Upper Falls of the Coal River and Meadowood Park in Tornado, and the town of St. Albans.
Cities near Lower Falls
Nearby Waterfalls
Other waterfalls named Lower Falls
18 other waterfalls share this name across the U.S.
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